Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 14 No. 1 59-72
© 1931 by American Dairy Science Association ®
Viability of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Bulgaricus Cultures Stored at Various Temperatures*
Luther A. Black
Division of Dairy Husbandry, Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Pullman
ABSTRACT
- Milk cultures of L. acidophilus have been stored at refrigerator temperatures for several days without causing any marked reduction in the number of living organisms.
- Less reduction in numbers of L. acidophilus occurred at refrigerator temperature, 9°C. (48°F.) or even at 0°C. (32°F.), than occurred at 37°C. (99°F.).
- There was little difference in viability between organisms in acidophilus milk kept several days at refrigerator temperature, 9°C. (48°F.), and at 22°C. (72°F).
- Judging from the results obtained at 9° and 0°C. it seems probable that cultured milk could be held at the usual storage temperatures of 4.4°C. (4°F.) or below for several days without greatly affecting the number of viable acidophilus organisms.
- The various strains of L. acidophilus examined reacted in a similar manner to the different storage temperatures.
- The strain of L. bulgaricus examined reacted to the storage temperatures in a manner similar to L. acidophilus.
- The stock cultures of L. acidophilus and the recently isolated fecal strain used in the experiments were alike in their reactions to the storage temperatures.
- Results of one acidophilus commercial broth culture indicated that refrigerator storage was also preferable to storage at room temperatures for that product.
- Stock cultures of L. acidophilus whether old or recently isolated strains, remained viable when held in the refrigerator and transferred once in 4 to 6 weeks or longer. In one case a sealed tube of a recently isolated fecal strain stored at refrigerator temperatures for one year was viable when removed.
FOOTNOTES
* Published with the approval of the Director of the Washington Agricultural Experiment Station as Scientific Paper No. 166, College of Agriculture and Experiment Station, State College of Washington.
Copyright © 1931 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.